Government to launch ‘Digong 8888 Hotline’
IN AN effort to bring government services closer to the Filipino people, the Duterte administration will launch a new television program dubbed as “Digong 8888 Hotline” on July 11, Malacañang announced Wednesday, July 3.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the “Digong 8888 Hotline,” a one-hour program, will air on state-run television network People’s Television (PTV)-4 and its affiliate provincial stations from 2 to 3 p.m. every Thursday.
Panelo said PTV-4’S new television program will feature one government agency every week to give viewers clearer understanding about its duties and responsibilities to the people.
“As the government seeks to bring its services closer to Filipinos, the Palace is pleased to announce that a new TV program which focuses on the works of the Citizens’ Complaint Hotline 8888 and the Presidential Complaint Center (PCC) is set to be launched this month,” he said in a statement.
“Dubbed as the ‘Digong 8888 Hotline,’ this onehour program aims to bridge the gap between government agencies and the people through segments that will directly address the ordinary Filipino’s concerns on various government services,” he added.
In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 6, institutionalizing “8888” as the citizen’s complaint center, a mechanism for addressing public grievances related to red tape and corruptin in government.
The “8888” hotline operates 24 hours, seven days a week tp address thousands of calls everyday for various requests and complains on government services. It is also mandated to deliver concrete and specific action on complaints within a 72-hour time frame.
The PCC, meantime, is a frontline desk of the Office of the President, which serves as a liaison unit to several departments and agencies of governments on all requests for assistance and information, as well as complaints and grievances.
“Digong 8888 Hotline” will be hosted by Panelo, Assistant Secretary Kris Roman of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, and PTV-4 news anchor Trixie Jaafar.
In a separate statement, Malacañang said there are also plans to have special episodes where Duterte will personally answer and respond to calls and questions.